the First major update for Windows 10 was released (Build 10586 Threshold 2)! What’s new?

The first major update for Windows 10 was released (Build 10586 Threshold 2)! What’s new?

Start is always difficult – a principle which, alas, is not spared and the launch of the new Windows 10. Operating system officially emerged in late July with a number of problems and shortcomings, despite the rather long process of pre-testing. As promised, Microsoft used the following months to actively work on getting it fixed, and in conditions of ongoing feedback from millions of users who switched to Windows 10.

The result of this work we saw today as the first major update, codenamed Threshold 2. It brings many changes – and not very noticeable, but there are among them those, which may be called the hit «just the ten.»

The new version number

With this update, Microsoft is introducing a new numbering scheme. Is Windows 10.1, the new version received the identification number 1511, which indicates the year and month of release – November 2015.

The current version number will be replaced by another after the next big update, which, according to rumors, is being developed under the code name Redstone.

Lite activation

At the start of the Windows 10 information on the mechanism of activation of the new OS was a big mess, full of ambiguities and misconceptions. Fortunately, the update Threshold 2 put an end to this. From now on, the new operating system supports the classic method of activation using a license key from Windows 7, 8 or 8.1. On the other hand, if the system was activated without a product key, it will be clearly marked in the system settings by going to Settings > Update and security > Activate, you will see an explanation of what this Windows 10 device has been activated «digital resolution», i.e. without using the product key (via an update).

A built-in feature for tracking lost or stolen devices

This is a very useful feature for owners of mobile computers, hybrids or tablets. After installation Threshold 2 Settings > Update and security will appear in a new section called «find device», where you allow the computer to periodically send their coordinates to a special section in the management portal Microsoft account. Because of this you can see on the map where is (or where was he at the time of the last sending of the coordinates) your mobile computer in case of theft or loss.

The function works on GeoIP, that is, the device does not have to be equipped with a GPS module, but to send the coordinates, of course, requires Internet access. On devices without a GPS location means may not be accurate.

Microsoft Edge is even better

Unfortunately, the extension support in this update was not implemented – despite initial promises, Microsoft we will have to wait, because the integration of this feature was postponed to the next major update.

However, something new is still there. The engine of the browser has received the full support of all new features of HTML5, CSS3, and ECMA, and the interface Edge is now available to preview open tabs. It also introduces the ability to sync bookmarks and reading list between all user’s devices that are running Windows 10.

This change, however, does not end there. Opening the browser menu, you will see a new feature «Move media to the device», which allows you to stream multimedia content to any device that support Miracast or DLNA.

Microsoft says that currently, you can share video from YouTube, music from Pandora and photos from Facebook, but in the future will add support for other services. However, the function also works perfectly with such sites as Ivi.ru and «Yandex.Music».

Other related media improvement is the new shortcut menu with the right mouse button, which allows you to pause and adjust the playback speed, disable the audio and save videos from some streaming video. Save video from YouTube, unfortunately, is not supported.

Last of a number of the most significant changes in Edge intersects with Cortana. Now the digital assistant can offer contextual information when opening PDF documents in the browser window. Just highlight the keywords and hit the «Ask Cortana».

And still something on a trifle:

now you can drag and drop files (Drag & drop) from Windows Explorer into the browser window;

new icon to create notes;

clicking the Central mouse button on the icon Edge opens a new browser window;

improvements in the development tools (F12).

The good news for devices with small disk space

One of the most annoying shortcomings of Windows 10 is the inability to install and transfer «shop» application on the drive or partition other than the one on which the system is installed. It is really a serious problem for owners of budget tablets with a low amount of internal memory. Even for the desktop users this is a serious disadvantage, especially if the system disk or partition used modestly sized SSD.

Fortunately, Threshold 2 solves this problem. After installing the update, you can install app Store anywhere you want – including external USB drives and memory cards. To do this, go to Settings > System > Storage. Some installed applications can be transferred from one disk/partition to another.

It should be noted that this feature is not so new. She appeared in the «top ten» in the development stage, even before the official release of the operating system 29 of July (I even dedicated her a separate article), but Microsoft decided to exclude it from the build 10240, as at the time the function worked well enough.

Cortana

Although most users from Russia and CIS countries is unlikely to be interesting, it should be noted that the voice assistant in Windows 10 no longer requires authentication with your Microsoft account, to be able to fully use its functions. Now cortana works without problems and with local uchetku.

With the new update and cortana offers enriched functionality: handwriting recognition note taking, reminders about going to the movie and other ticket events, notifications about missed calls and the ability to send text messages directly from the computer (last two functions work in tandem with Windows 10 Mobile).

Interesting energy-saving feature Cortana allows it to samovilata when the computer is not in use.

Changes in the user interface

Colored title bars are back, so no longer need to go to all sorts of tricks if you don’t like the standard white Windows. Just visit the Options, Color and toggle the»Show color in the start menu on the taskbar, in the notification center and the title of the window» in position «On». The window headers will be painted in your chosen color.

Changed some of the context menu. In particular, the context menu of the taskbar is now much bigger and painted in a dark color:

The context menu of the tiles in the «Start» looks like this:

And the menu looks like in the task view:

Jump lists in the start menu now also look much better:

In the start menu you can add an additional row of tiles. For this you need to go to Settings > Personalize > start and enable the option «Show more tiles».

App recommendations in «start menu»

As expected, the section Settings > Personalize > start now contains a new option «Sometimes show suggestions in the start menu», which is enabled by default. Under the recommendations of means is apps that, according to Microsoft, worthy to be installed and tested.

If any recommendations you do not want to see, they can always be turned off.

New apps Skype and Sway

In Windows 10 Threshold 2 updated all built-in apps and new ones added. Skype features, Microsoft for some reason decided to make three separate applications: «Video Skype», «Phone» and «Messages». Each of them performs its function: video calls, audio calls and text chat, respectively. The desktop version of Skype can still be installed.

Sway is a new representative of the office applications from Microsoft, which will now be available in Windows 10. The app allows you to create interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and share them with other users. In other words, it is a modern version of PowerPoint. Learn more about Sway you can from our review.

Tablet mode and snap Windows

Some of the features in tablet mode now works as in Windows 8. For example, in the task views, you can drag the thumbnail of the application or window at the bottom of the screen to close it.

Updated and the snap feature (Snap assist). Now when you resize one window the next window will expand or shrink automatically, occupying the remaining screen space. This feature can be turned on or off in Settings Multitasking.

The background image on the login screen can now be disabled

No longer need to edit the registry to enable plain fill color instead of the so-called Windows 10 Hero background Image on the login screen.

Just go to Settings > Personalization > lock Screen and uncheck the «Show on login screen background picture Windows». Unfortunately, to specify a custom image as the background still can, at least, the normal operations of the system.

New in-app Settings

In addition to the above new features in the system settings there are some other new options and subsections:

The system > About: now here you can see the version (1511) and the build number of the operating system.

System > Offline maps: now here you can change the storage location for offline maps.

Devices> Printers & scanners: you can allow Windows to control the default printer (the default will be the printer that was last used).

Devices > USB: new sub-menu with a new option «Notify if there are problems connecting to USB devices».

Account> working access: new options.

Updates and security > update Windows: you can obtain detailed information about the latest updates.

Updates and security > Activation: this section now contains code and product key.

Privacy policy > call history, E-mail: new sections where you can prevent other applications to access your call log and email messages.

What else?

New animations for opening and closing Store apps.

New welcome message during the first launch.

To personalize lock screen in Windows 10 Pro was added the function «Windows: interesting.» Once enabled, background images for lockscreen are automatically downloaded from the Internet.

The «All apps» in the menu «start» now supports display of 2048 elements instead of 512.

New icons in control panel, device Manager and registry editor; new icon for USB devices and disks in the system tray.

New item «scan using Windows Defender» in context menu of files and folders.

New feature «Search Store» in the context menu of files.

Nested virtualization in Hyper-V.

Now the system tells you if updates are downloaded from multiple locations (from computers in the local network and other computers on the Internet).

Fixed numerous bugs, improved memory management, responsiveness was noticeably better. Download of OS is 30% faster than Windows 7 on the same device, according to Microsoft.

These are the changes in Threshold 2, the first major update to Windows 10. If I missed something, feel free to tell in comments. And don’t forget to share your feedback after you install!